Enjoy the Trails
There are numerous walking and hiking trails that are both safe and challenging to teens. If you're on the South Shore, the four Taylor Creek Visitor Center Nature Trails are ideal. Be sure to take the Rainbow Trail, a half-mile walk that will take you to a stream profile chamber where visitors can view lake inhabitants from a glass-enforced area. These trails are open year-round, weather permitting, although the chamber is only open Memorial Day through Labor Day. North Shore teens will love the half-mile Loch Leven Lakes Trail, which provides great views of five alpine lakes. You can also see the Donner Summit during the hike, which may be of interest to teens who learned about the Donner Party in school. Emerald Bay's Vikingsholm trail is also great for exploring and is perfectly safe for teens in good health. The one-mile trail can be steep, but it is undertaken by children and adults of all ages, so parents needn't worry as long as their teen is responsible. Vikingsholm also provides plenty of rest areas, not to mention a half-hour tour of the Vikingsholm Castle, which was built in 1929, once they reach the basin. These three trails are secluded enough that they provide a sense of adventure, but are brief, clearly marked and well-monitored, giving parents a sense of relief.
The Lake
Teens can appreciate the beauty and recreation that Lake Tahoe has to offer. Those staying at a lakeside-sanctioned hotel or motel on the South Shore can walk with a parent to the Lakeside Marina and rent a water bike or kayak. Those 16 or older can drive a power boat or jet ski. Remember that most places only rent gear to teens 18 and older. Teens 16 and 17 may be able to rent gear with parental permission. Call ahead before letting your teen take off to rent a kayak for the day.
Other beaches that are popular with teenage groups include King's Beach, Sand Harbor and Pope Beach. King's Beach is ideal for active teens, as it provides equipment for kayaks, jet skis, parasailers and water bikes. Sand Harbor is ideal for artsy teens, as it hosts the annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Pope Beach is perfect for teens who want a quieter place to hang with their friends.
Enjoy the Snow
During the wintertime Lake Tahoe's snowy setting provides opportunities for teens to get out and get physical. Snowboarding and skiing are popular activities with the teen crowd, and, fortunately, Tahoe offers seven resorts, ensuring that no matter where you stay there will be a winter sports venue nearby. Parents can let older children break off and meet new friends on the slopes, and they can take the younger siblings to the smaller hills and act their instructors. Most ski resorts contain lodges and ice skating rinks, two ideal hang-out venues for teenager who have made a few friends. Heavenly Ski Resort is the hippest place to go skiing, so many teens will no doubt want to ride here. It offers gondola rides that take patrons 2.4 miles up the mountain. Squaw Valley has a teen camp that allows novices to advance their skiing and snowboarding techniques at their own pace while providing guidance when necessary.
Article Written By Nellie Day
Nellie Day is a freelance writer based out of Hermosa Beach, Calif. Her work can regularly be seen on newsstands, where her specialties include weddings, real estate, food and wine, pets, electronics, architecture and design, business and travel. Day earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California.
